Umaido

Great stuff here!! Arrived before dinner time and was seated immediately. The gal taking care of us was superb from start to finish. Tonkotsu was fantastic!! Squid legs also good. Cucumbers a bit bland and could have used a little something extra. Vinegar for a bit of a twang, or otherwise. Steamed dumplings seemed pan fried. Good though. The ambience and decor is exactly what I’d want from a place like this. Perfect. Got a small ramen with the spicy noodles to go, just to try it. It was so good! Can’t wait to go back and try more from this place!!

There was a long wait for the food and the ramen was too salty for me. But the other food was fine. The employees were very nice but it was just tiring to wait 😅 I understand that it was the weekend dinner time so I recommend getting a reservation if you can.

They were very busy, so we had to wait a bit for our table. Service was excellent. They were very kind and efficient. We ordered the spicy miso ramen with pork and kimchi ramen cones with chicken garlic katsu. We added the kakuni (braised pork belly) topping. The broth was rich and delicious, and the components cooked very well. This last minute dining decision was a good one! Umaido continues to be one of our favorites.

Ordered the lunch combo which gives you any Ramen and a selection of salad, sushi roll or other items. This was not only DELICIOUS but a great deal! I'm pretty sure the noodles are made fresh too, because the flavor of the ramen was phenomenal. Past that, service was also great. I showed up while they were busy, but they found a spot for me and the server was always moving or working. This is a great restaurant that I absolutely recommend.

A small hole-in-the-wall Japanese place with good ramen and okay rice dishes. We waited a bit for a table since the place is small. I ordered the shrimp katsu curry, and it came in decent quantity, but the curry was way too thin. The flavor was good and the shrimp well fried, but the curry fell short. My other friends enjoyed their ramen, though it's the kind with thin noodles.

Chashu is a solid 9/10. The slices are tender and succulent, with a beautiful balance of fat that allows them to practically melt in your mouth. The broth earns an 8/10—it’s flavorful without being overpowering, with a subtle umami depth and a comforting warmth. The noodles, at 7/10, are on the thinner side and have a slightly chewy texture, but they lack the springiness and depth of flavor that great ramen noodles often have. Never had to write a complaint for an establishment but here’s what happened: We placed our name down and were told by the most kindest host/waitress that night there would be a 15-20 minute wait. “We will call you and will give you a 10 minute time for you to come” We were called at 6:51. We returned at 7:01 because we only received one call and missed it. When we returned, a different staff abruptly said, “Yeah we tried calling you and it went to voicemail so we just took you completely off.” There was no sense of hospitality or customer service offered, as we stood her looking at her dumbfounded after a 30 minute wait. So we wondered if she told us to simply leave and couldn’t wait for another table. Before we said anything, she did turn around and found that a table was already set up for us. After we looked at the menu, she was our designated waitress and instead of welcoming and just simply forgetting/apologizing for the poor and rude greeting earlier, she brought up the incident again and said: “So I told the other waitress that if the call goes straight to voicemail, that 10 minute grace period does not apply”. We were not informed by the other staff that this was the policy, and what exactly is the point of her bringing this up again? This made us feel as if we failed to be staring at our phone/listening to our ringtone and if we did not do that for ONE RING, we could not eat here. After serving us the food, there was not a single time where she asked how we were doing how the food is tasting and if we needed anything else, she only came back to fill the water and absolutely said nothing else. I hope this was constructive to addressing her concerns. Thank you.

My wife and son will only go to Umaido for Ramen, so I have tagged along a few times now. They have other authentic dishes as well. The food is delicious and the service is outstanding. This is a small and quaint place but everything is prepared fresh. If you understand their menu and their purpose then you will understand the look and aesthetics of the restaurant. Simple and good. Enjoy!!!!!

This might be the best Japanese ramen in Duluth. The broth portion feels a bit smaller than before, but it still captures the authentic flavor I remember from Japan better than anywhere else around here.

An incredible find. This was my first time here and TBH my first time having Ramen (other than the stuff from the grocery store). I was skeptical, but decided to try the Tonkotsu dish (pork). With a side of rice and chicken just in case. It was amazing - like over the top amazing. Incredibly flavorful with plenty to eat. The staff was knowledgeable, courteous, and attentive. A great atmosphere and even better meal. I highly recommend - you won't be disappointed.

I came in here with a friend last Saturday for a hearty lunch. My friend likes this place so I had decent expectations. I love ramen, so a good bowl makes my day. The place does not have a LOT of seating so be prepared to wait a tad bit during busy days. We had to wait for 10 mins and then we had a spot at a communal style table. We were quickly given water and we had to scan the QR code to see the menu. The Spicy Miso interested me and my friend got the Tonkotsu. It took about 15 minutes for the ramen bowls to arrive and it looked DELICIOUS! Honestly, it was good. The egg, the broth, and the whole concoction tasted great. I just feel that it wasn't really spicy. And the oomph or hearty factor was a lil missing. The price point wasn't too bad. The portions were typical too.

I got the curry rice with pork chops with an edamame starter. First time I've had Japanese food in a while that's not ramen or sushi. It was really delicious!!! Can't wait to go back!!! The space is a bit small so I definitely recommend making an online reservation through Yelp before heading out. Service was a bit slow but there was a large lunch crowd.

Been my go to spot since 2021 I always get the tori karage and it never disappoints the atmosphere is so amazing and cute 10/10 recommend

Me and my friend are both from different states but we travel to Duluth every summer and Umaido is always the first place we stop! We haven't found any other ramen place that compares! Food and service is 100/10 every single time!

Found a roach in my khani salad. The server didn't come back to the table until we stopped him

My favorite ramen spot! Ultra spicy level 3 just hits the spot! Just please play some anime on the two tv's

The ramen is delicious & flavorful. The free fresh garlic is a big plus! Honey miso & tonkatsu flavor

The ramen is amazing--definitely my favorite (even over Jinya). The problem is the service and wait times. Servers seem inexperienced, disorganized and even ambivalent. The limited seating means that you may end up waiting for over an hour and there is no where to sit while you wait. Your estimated waiting time is a VERY LOOSE estimate and it usually takes longer than the estimate you're given when you show up. If they would fix their service and wait time issues, I'd give Umaido 5 stars, easy.

Bottom line: I would come back. Not the best but not the worst. Decent price. Atmosphere: Mid-light, spacious, not too loud Food: No physical menu so I can't share. Each table has a QR code that links you to the digital menu on your phone so you can just look it up. We got the $4.50 Hirata Buns (pulled pork with scallions, onion, and Mayo in a steamed bun) for an appetizer. The pork had decent flavor, but the bottom of my bun was very soggy. My companion got the $13 Tonkotsu Ramen for her entree. I wasn't very pleased. It looked good but the flavor wasn't that strong at all. You can pay an extra dollar for "rich broth", but that seems a bit sleezy to me considering how bland it was otherwise. I got the $14.95 Ultra Spicy Ramen Level 2(basically just a spicy tonkotsu). This was a great level of spice for me. Great kick while still enjoyable. This had much better flavor than the normal tonkotsu because of the chili. P.S in the Ultra Spicy Ramen: The menu advertises three levels of spice, but the restaurant offers up to 100 levels In both of our bowls, the fat from the pork belly was super tender as was the meat, but the meat came apart very fibrously which I didn't find as pleasant as the "melt in your mouth" texture that you usually get with a good bowl of ramen. I did, however, like how they gave each of us an entire egg rather than a half egg which is the standard from my experience, although those eggs didn't have much flavor from the marinade either. Service: Our waitress was very prompt with us. She visited our table frequently to refill our water and make sure everything was fine. Our food came out very quickly as well. Overall: I would come back again. The food wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible. It was average, and the price isn't too bad either. P.S. Be careful opening the front door. I gave myself a small cut on my finger because of a splinter on the handle

Been coming here since 2010-11, love the food never had a problem! I always get ramen decoration could use some upgrade. Bathrooms are nice. Service is good!

Their Yelp checkin system was down, thankfully it wasn't full so they sat us right down. The waitress was very sweet and attentive. The vibe is small, industrial eatery with some cultural influence. The food was savory, flavorful and arrived at a very good time. The rice in the shrimp tempura was fresh and less sticky then normal The tory Karaage was yummy and the chicken was crispy The tonkatsu was savory and rich. The bathroom is unisex and it's a little dirty due to traffic. Overall this is one of my husbands favorite spots and never disappoints.

This restaurant was recommended by our foodie friends! We tried the mild curry with Katsu Tofu, the Goma Kyuri appetizer, the Brussel sprouts, karaage bao buns and the pork belly were ALL absolutely Delicious! My husband and I will absolutely come back! We also received top notch service!

Good fast service and pretty good food. I got their tonkotsu rich broth with fried chicken. There were plentiful of toppings if you compare to other ramen places. Their broth was good but not the best I have had. Their noodles were good as well with nice texture and chew. The fried chicken was decent and the pork buns were okay.

Stopped by after 10+ years because I heard the food had gotten better and because I was curious to see why there was always a line here. FOOD: Takoyaki ($8) - Comes out in 8 pieces. Nothing too special about it and it's a bit smaller than other places, but tasted fine. Seafood Ramen - Spicy Level 2 ($15 + $2) - I got the all seafood broth and was pleasantly surprised with the taste. The broth wasn't fishy at all, which I appreciated. The spicy oil really elevates it as well. I would say the spicy oil is the type that builds up and gives a kick at the end. The noodles were also great, thin but with a chewy bite to it. Unfortunately, the stars of the dish, the squid and shrimp were so bland. They are slightly fried, which adds texture, but not seasoned at all. It definitely underwhelmed the entire dish as a whole. SERVICE: Service was good. I waitlisted on Yelp with the app, but there is also a tablet in the lobby to add yourself to the waitlist. It said to check in with the host, but there wasn't a host to check in with, so we just waited in the lobby until someone asked us our name. Our server was attentive and was quick to refill our waters. OVERALL: I would give it a 3.5 just because I think the health score is a bit low and because food was overall average, but it definitely is more of a 4 than a 3 since it's somewhere I wouldn't mind coming back to and I do think the quality has gotten better than when I last tried it 10+ years ago.

Exploring something new around the area. Once you enter, you feel like you are in one of a tiny ramen shop in Japan. Scan QR code to look at the menu. Appetizers, Ramen, rice, additional ramen, dessert. Ramen are thin noodles in 3 different colors/flavors. Original, vegetable, and spicy. Tho I can't taste the different because the broths are so good. I had the ultra spicy level 2. Level 2 Spicy flavorful broth is not very spicy but just the right kick. I can drink the whole bowl without feeling thirsty. The pork is melt in your mouth. My husband ordered wasabi shoyu. Their umaido seafood broth is great, kinda darker color broth but it's not heavy at all. Tori Karaage Don small is mini, 3pcs chicken, with kani salad and rice. Wish they have more karaage as side order. Shrimp tempura is good, except rice is a little sticky and soft. Takoyaki are good and fresh, crispy on the skin and soft inside. I just wish they offer more appetizers. Our server is friendly and prompt. She kept checking to see if everything is good. Overalls very good, price is reasonable and I really like their broth.

I think I found my favorite ramen shop in Georgia ! This spot is great and offers many options of ramen and other Japanese dishes. We had their ultra spicy ramen (level 10) and boy was it spicy..... you can choose a level from 1 to 100 . We almost did 99 and I'm glad we didn't because it might have been the death to our mouth. Then, we ordered the tonkotsu ramen and it was so smooth. We also ordered the kaki fry (fried oyster) which was very pleasantly and good size. Lastly, we ordered the takoyaki which were small but were very delicious. The atmosphere is really cool and makes you enjoy their ramen even more. The service was great! Our waiter explained their menu and the offered recommendations what we should ordered. The food came out quickly. We will visit again! Enjoy ;) IG: Travelfoodie_ishy

a damn fine bowl of ramen. some of the best around. I might have found a new favorite spot between here and their sister restaurant, Hajime.

Absolutely delicious ramen. Tastes great, and the wait times for a table are never too bad. The interior has some cool design and atmosphere, though the concrete wall feeling can sometimes be a bit cold.

Umaido just cannot get it right. Sometimes great, often terrible. As of NOV 2023.... Terrible Greasy fatty broth. Diarrhea city. Don't they know that they need to skim the fat off the broth after it's simmered all night? Sure they do... but why throw away the fat when you can charge your customers for it? They've lost me again. It will likely be another year before I give them another chance. There's just too many restaurants in the area who care about the quality of the food.

I give this place a 4.5. Okay so I'm extremely biased to this place. The ramen is amazing. They can do no wrong even when they tell me they can't do something lol. Sooo my first time coming here I believe I got the seafood ramen with karage as my ramen and I also got the takoyaki, shrimp bun, chicken bun and fried squid for appetizers. I also tried the sake. Everything was very good. The next 2 times I returned, I got the spicy ramen with chicken broth instead of pork broth but they ended up telling me after 2 times that they were accommodating me but the spicy miso really isn't a ramen where they change the broth. They have very few options where they change the broth which sucks if you don't like or don't eat pork, so keep that in mind. The last time that I went, being that they crushed me with the news of not being able to change the broth I got the kimchi stir fry ramen which was also very good. In total my boyfriend and I have been here 4 times and plan to return. The servers are nice. I recommend Vivian. She was great. It's also a pretty comfortable ambience. I will say that out of the 3 flavors I tried. The spicy miso was my favorite. I'm sure people who do eat pork will thoroughly enjoy it. You can add in whatever you want to make it taste better. I recommend adding corn it just makes the ramen taste so much better in my opinion and of course whatever other meats and veggies you prefer. I also tried one of the beers but I didn't like it. Also not a beer drinker at all so someone who loves beer may enjoy it. They have an ume soda which is good. Out of the 4 times I been here 3 times was literally in one week because it really is so good and flavorful. Overall I give it about a 4.5 I think they should expand their beverage section non alcoholic mainly and give the option to change the broth on another ramen.

Umaido is delicious! We've never had a bad experience here. I used to come twice a week when we lived in Lawrenceville but now that we live farther, we make the hour drive once a month. I love their karaage don and my fiancé gets the green ramen with the kale noodles. The edamame is pretty good too, we just don't get it anymore because the food is very filling. Absolutely delicious and we will never stop coming here !

Superb experience. It's like being in a ramen bar in Tokyo. Great ramen, and appetizers

This was my first time trying ramen & I'm glad I came here for the experience. The food and service was amazing. I got the stir-fried kimchi with chicken broth which was phenomenal. I got a spice level 5 (I love spicy food) which was spicier than I expected but it was very enjoyable. The space is a bit small but it's definitely worth it. I suggest joining the waitlist before you go because you will be waiting for a bit, but like I said, 100% worth it.

Visited on a Friday at 12:30 and there were only a few other diners there. Service was fast and friendly. I never felt rushed and we were checked on multiple times. I had the Tonkotsu Ramen and it was super delicious! The pork just about fell apart it was so tender. The portion sizes are excellent for $13. Overall, I was very impressed and look forward to returning!

What a great ramen place right under my nose!! Wow! In the building next to H Mart a friend of mine recommended this place has the best Japanese Ramen around. Small place but uniquely inviting and great service and selection of spicy and original Ramen dishes. My son got the spicy miso which was really good and I got the Tori Sio with fried chicken on the side spicy and it was a great dish as well. They had cold beer to wash it down but this was just a really cool restaurant that we really liked and enjoyed. If you're a Ramen fan you've got to try this out. Highly recommend!!

Food was really good, we loved everything we ordered from appetizers to desserts. But when we got there, no one at the lobby and when he called our names which I put it on the waitlist before I got there, he said I had to check in FIRST. Sure, but nobody was ever at the front to check in except the machine for you to enter your name on the waitlist. And we were just standing around the lobby to wait for our turn. I don't really like the atmosphere, it's an industry like interior with long table serving which you don't really get much privacy. But I will go back just for their food, maybe just a takeout order or a quick dinner.

Came here for lunch with friends and ordered the mild curry ramen with shrimp katsu! The curry is vegetable based and was so thick, creamy, and flavorful. The shrimp was crispy and delicious. The portion was large enough for me to have leftovers and was very reasonably priced at 13.95. The service was great and our food was ready within 10-15 minutes of ordering, despite the restaurant being almost full. The ambience was lovely inside, with a bowl of lollipops for guests to take at the front. The bathrooms have heated toilet seats with automated bidets which was so nice and unexpected! I would definitely come back and reorder the curry ramen!

Ramen and Japanese curry was a top notch!! I would highly recommend trying both lunch and dinner

Umaido is an Ummm-No for me ... one of the perks of getting to travel often for work is the finding great Ramen spots.. this is not one of them .. I ordered the staple Ramen some chicken Boa... The ramen was average at best and the Boa was not made fresh just frozen re-heat. I would give the staff five starts !! Very friendly and helpful ..

Waste of time using the yelp waitlist. They still put you at the end of the line. Defeats tye purpose of checking in on yelp.

Really like this place! Parking wad not an issue and there was no wait around 6:30 pm on a weekday. It was slightly cold in there so make sure you bring a light jacket. I liked the food and service and the fancy toilet was nice too .

Everything about Umaido is AMAZING they have such amazing ramen,to hirata bun,onigiri, and more. We have been going to only this place as OUR Ramen Place for a long time now & if you are in search of what real amazing ramen is try it out!

Service and food was great but it was just hot inside the restaurant NO AC. We were sweating while just waiting for a table

Delicious ramen! It took a while to get seated since it was busy, but once we did the food arrived quickly.

Food and service was amazing. Was craving ramen and umaido hit the spot but 4 star because owners seem to be cheap and hardly ever have the AC on. Was hot inside so a little difficult to enjoy food

The best ramen bowls and other dishes. My family frequents this restaurant. Their service is excellent, even when busy. The ambiance is comfortable, clean and family oriented. One day, they were out of eggs and no one missed it. Best In Gwinnett!

Best ramen I have ever had. For real. You absolutely must try the Hirata buns. Two per order, but four is a good meal. The fact that they bring you extra noodles if you have broth left over is wonderful. The manager is a super cool dude and very humble. The wall art is insane (bring your colored sharpies)! I literally had a business trip to ATL in April 2023 (I worked in Suwanee from 2015-2020)...I had the entire north side of Atlanta to choose from for dinner with an old friend: I chose Umaido.

The ramen was good but the onigiris may improve, tacoyaky was really good, the service is good

Very good food definitely will go there again and no to expensive either. Clean and inviting.

My kid loved the fresh takoyaki here. You can tell by the octopus stuffing. He ate a whole dish of takoyaki. The broth is not as savory like other places. I know Japan has many style of ramen as different places will have different way of cooking, but this is the first time I have this blanched broth. So weird ...

I went in there for a quick fix after landing for a business trip, around 9 o clock. I was quickly seated and being served. I ordered tonkatsu ramen, which is the typical ramen that I go for. Ramen was out pretty quick. Honestly, with the high rated reviews, I was not impressed at all. Portion was small, tonkatsu was pretty bland and not chargrilled enough, and the broth was flavorless. Alas, the store is clean but not much decorated. Overall, pretty disappointed experience.

Do not use the waitlist on yelp. It does not have their hours so you might show up with a hungry family very excited for ramen and be turned away at 2:47 on a Friday because "the kitchen closed 2 minutes ago." Very disappointing.

Umaido is such a gem and so worth the drive all the way to Suwanee! The restaurant is in a pretty packed area and is pretty small, but the vibes are so cool. Definitely get there early or make a reservation! Our waiter was super chill and gave great honest feedback on the food, and I ended up settling on the spicy ramen level 1. I think I could test my limits and go to 2 next time, but 1 was the perfect option for low yet super flavorful spice. The noodles were their special pink spicy noodles, and I thought it was unique how all of their noodles are a different color/flavor depending on which bowl you order. Pork was plentiful and super tasty, and I liked the rest of the toppings. Umaido is super lowkey, but it's a great place to grab Japanese food for a relatively low cost.

Food is always good as well as the service. One of the best ramen places around. If you like spice I recommend the ultra spicy ramen. If not, even their plain ramen is flavorful.

Twelve years... TWELVE YEARS I have been a patron of Umaido. I've ordered for lunch while working, I've stopped by on my way home to grab dinner... I've picked up ramen to soothe my soul. NOT ONCE has their service or food been off the mark. READ... not one time in TWELVE YEARS. I sit here now with my daughter who is ten as she eats her Tonkatsu ramen, just as happy as she can be in the same place I sat and ate while pregnant with her. Umaido has been a lovely quiet part of my family and I am Grateful for their presence in the community. Do yourself a favor and pull up a chair and enjoy the love and warmth in the food.

The food here is always amazing. It's a place I come to for good ramen. We were seated pretty quickly. Inside has cute Japanese decorations.

Food was amazing I got spicy miso and boy did it tickle my utters, not really spicy but it was still good. The toilets were heated and had bidets that got me way cleaned up. The seating was really nice didn't feel awkward felt comfy and warm they had booths and tables and high tops.

This is a smaller restaurant, so there is a waitlist. However, the line moves fast, and with the yelp app & account, it'll notify you when your table is ready if you sign up! The food came extremely fast, and the portions were well-sized and filling. The seafood ramen broth and the tonkatsu ramen were rich and decadent. The chasyu melts in your mouth, and the ramen wasn't too salty but very savory. The soft boiled egg was perfect. The noodles are also different colors depending on the bowl! This is my new favorite ramen place!

This is a wonderful Japanese restaurant! We stopped in after reading the reviews on yelp and we're very happy we did. We were greeted and seated immediately, and our drink order taken quickly. It took a few minutes to go through the menu and decide between all the delicious options. My husband had a Sapporo beer and I had plum wine. We ordered the Yaki Gyoza (chicken dumplings) and the Gomo Kyuri (cucumber salad) as appetizers. I decided to try the Tori Karaage Don because I love Japanese fried chicken. Hubby ordered the Katsu Tofu Curry Don (fried tofu in Japanese curry sauce) The drinks came out first followed by the cucumbers which were delicious, although not as spicy as I am used to. The plum wine had an actual plum in the glass! Then my husband's curry dish arrived, followed soon after by my Karaage. Both were wonderful! Our server stopped by to say that the Gyoza took a bit longer and she would bring them out as soon as they were ready. I did ask for some spicy mayonnaise for the chicken and it was much spicier than I was used to! We were finished with our entrées when the Gyoza arrived so we ate them as dessert! They were delicious.